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Since the May 17, 2006 press announcement of a new lineup of small and medium-sized LCDs featuring the ultimate in wide-angle viewing, Epson Imaging Devices Corporation has been flooded with inquiries from prospective manufacturing clients.
The new high-resolution displays featuring Photo Fine Vistarich technology draw onEpson Imaging Devices' innovative use of alignment film and liquid crystal materials to produce crisp, beautiful images even when viewed from a sharp angle-- up to 180 degrees from the top, bottom, left, and right -- with hardly any changes in contrast or color.
They thus promise to provide a clear picture for viewers of in-car entertainment systems even when they are not sitting directly in front of the screen. Digital camera users will also be able to preview the images they are shooting in true-to- life colors while holding the camera above their heads, and users of multi-function mobile devices will be able to enjoy moving pictures, such as movies and sports broadcasts, from virtually any angle.
The wide viewing angle, combined with Epson Imaging Devices' low-voltage, energy-saving design and slim modules, has attracted considerable attention from manufacturers worldwide. In Japan, the new display dovetails perfectly with the launch of a terrestrial digital broadcasting service enabling TV programs to be viewed on
mobile phones.
"The interest expressed in Vistarich so far has been tremendous," notes Hideki Kaneko, supervisor in Epson Imaging Devices' Device Development Department at the company's plant in Tottori, near the Sea of Japan. "In addition to our traditional customers, like manufacturers of mobile phones, digital cameras, and automotive
electronics, numerous companies involved in other market segments have also been contacting us. Judging by the number of inquiries, there's probably been even greater interest from abroad."
Behind Photo Fine Vistarich's wide viewing angle is advanced technology that gives contrast ratios of over 100:1 from  80 degrees (500:1 when viewed head on). This leads to outstanding image quality compared to conventional LCDs, whose contrast ratios from 80 degrees are usually only about 10:1.
"Images tend to white out and become indistinguishable when contrast ratios are that low," points out Kanechika Kiyose of the Device Development Department, who helped develop Vistarich with Kaneko. "I think the differences with our new displays will become obvious when you simply compare them side by side with existing displays."
This new technology is not all that sets Photo Fine Vistarich apart, though. Unlike the wide-angle displays of other manufacturers, it is built with electrodes both above and below the insulator, enabling the movement of liquid crystal molecules in horizontal directions to achieve high aperture ratios. This not only means there is no change in color when the display is viewed at a sharp angle but also results in energy savings through reduced back-lighting and lower voltage requirements.
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